Portland International Raceway (PIR) is a motorsport facility located in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It lies west of the Delta Park/Vanport light rail station and less than a mile west of Interstate 5.

The track

thumb|left|Portland International Raceway via [[USGS satellite imagery]]

The track hosts the IndyCar Series, ICSCC and SCCA and OMRRA road racing, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series West, and SCCA autocross events. Additionally, the PIR grounds are host to OBRA (Oregon Bicycle Racing Association) bicycling races on the track and the surrounding grounds. The facility includes a dragstrip and a motocross track.

thumb|Entrance to Portland International Raceway

The road course is almost perfectly flat and runs clockwise. Two track configurations are possible. The modern Grand Prix circuit includes a hard chicane at the end of the front straight, referred to as the "Shelton Chicane" in honor of Vanport racing legend Monte Shelton, and involves 12 turns at a length of . Without the chicane, the track has nine turns and a lap length of . Portland is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.

PIR boasts a Winners' List starring some of the most accomplished open-wheel drivers of all time including Mario Andretti (1985–1986), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989), Michael Andretti (1990–1992), Bobby Rahal (1987), Sébastien Bourdais (2004, 2007), Will Power (2019, 2024), and Álex Palou (2021, 2023).

The City of Portland is working to establish the track as carbon neutral. In 2023, an investigation revealed the use of leaded gasoline at the track, which may pose significant health risks for spectators and residents near the track. This occurs primarily during drag races, as unleaded fuel (often alcohol based) is used in major weekends.

History

PIR is built on the former location of Vanport, Oregon, which was destroyed on Memorial Day, May 30, 1948, when a railroad berm broke and water from the Columbia River flooded the city. After the flood, all that remained were the paved streets and concrete foundations of destroyed buildings.

The first races took place on these old city streets in 1961 during the Portland Rose Festival. Since then, the Rose Cup has become an annual event. Racing at "West Delta Park", as PIR was known back then, was quite dangerous. Racers leaving the track unexpectedly could collide with leftover concrete foundations or fall into ponds.

Under the threat of losing the Rose Cup races, since many of the sanctioning racing bodies would no longer sanction races due to the deteriorating roads and dangerous obstacles, the track was finally paved in the 1970s. The track reopened on February 23, 2008, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

In September 2018, the Grand Prix of Portland returned after an 11-year hiatus, now an IndyCar Series race. The qualifying record is 0:57.3467, set by Will Power during the 2018 Grand Prix of Portland. Will Power (2019, 2024) and Álex Palou (2021, 2023) have each won twice since the race returned to the calendar.

On September 29, 2021, it was announced that the NASCAR Xfinity Series would race there in the regular season.

On December 8, 2022, it was announced that Formula E would race at PIR with a slightly modified layout in the 2022–23 season instead of Brooklyn Street Circuit. Nick Cassidy won the inaugural Portland ePrix in June 2023, and António Félix da Costa won both races in June 2024.

Events

; Current

  • April: International Conference of Sports Car Clubs Rose City Opener
  • May: SCCA Super Tour
  • June: International Conference of Sports Car Clubs Dash for Kids
  • August: IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Portland, ARCA Menards Series West Portland 112, Indy NXT, USF Pro 2000 Championship, USF2000 Championship
  • September: International Conference of Sports Car Clubs Chicane Challenge, Formula Car Challenge
  • October: International Conference of Sports Car Clubs Festival of Endurance

; Former

  • AMA Superbike Championship (1983–1984)
  • American Le Mans Series
  • Portland Grand Prix (1999–2001, 2004–2006)
  • Atlantic Championship Series (1984–1988, 2002–2007)
  • Barber Pro Series (1987–1991, 1999, 2002–2003)
  • Champ Car World Series
  • Grand Prix of Portland (1984–2007)
  • Ferrari Challenge North America (2006)
  • FIA Formula E World Championship
  • Portland ePrix (2023–2024)
  • IMSA GT Championship
  • Portland Grand Prix (1978–1994)
  • IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge (2005)
  • Pirelli World Challenge
  • Rose Cup Races (2001, 2004–2005, 2018–2019)
  • Mazda MX-5 Cup (2004–2008, 2018–2019)
  • NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
  • Grainger Industrial Supply 225K (1999–2000)
  • NASCAR Northwest Series (1995–1998, 2000–2001)
  • NASCAR Xfinity Series
  • Pacific Office Automation 147 (2022–2025)
  • North American Touring Car Championship (1995–1997)
  • Stadium Super Trucks (2019)
  • Trans-Am Series (1972, 1975–1987, 1990–1995, 2001, 2004–2005, 2009)
  • Trans-Am West Coast Championship (2017–2019, 2021–2025)
  • USF Juniors (2024–2025)

Lap records

The unofficial outright all-time lap record set during a race weekend is 0:55.760 seconds, set by Wayne Taylor on the old circuit layout, in an Intrepid RM-1-Chevrolet, during qualifying for the 1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix Presented by Nissan. As of August 2025, the fastest official race lap records at Portland International Raceway are listed as:

{| class="wikitable"

!Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (2008–present):

|-

| IndyCar || 0:58.7403 || Carlos Muñoz || Dallara DW12 || 2018 Grand Prix of Portland

|-

| Indy NXT || 1:02.8861 || Nolan Siegel || Dallara IL-15 || 2023 Portland Indy NXT round

|-

| Indy Pro 2000 || 1:07.1597 || Rinus VeeKay || Tatuus PM-18 || 2018 Pro Mazda Grand Prix of Portland

|-

| GT3 || 1:10.791 || Miguel Molina || Ferrari 488 GT3 || 2018 Portland SprintX GT Championship round

|-

| USF2000 || 1:11.1947 || Thomas Schrage || Tatuus USF-22 || 2025 USF2000 Grand Prix of Portland

|-

| ARCA Menards || 1:11.570 || William Sawalich || Toyota Camry || 2025 Portland 112

|-

| TA1 || 1:13.574 || Greg Pickett || Ford Mustang Trans-Am || 2019 Portland Trans-Am West Coast round

|-

| Barber Pro || 1:14.122 || Leonardo Maia || Reynard 98E || 2003 Portland Barber Pro round

|-

| NASCAR Xfinity || 1:14.552 || Connor Zilisch || Chevrolet Camaro SS || 2025 Pacific Office Automation 147

|-

| TA2 || 1:14.702 || Brody Goble || Ford Mustang Trans-Am || 2025 Portland Trans-Am West Coast round

|-

| USF Juniors || 1:15.0871 || Ariel Elkin || Tatuus JR-23 || 2024 Continental Tire Grand Prix of Portland

|-

| GT4 || 1:17.660 || Christian Szymczak || Mercedes-AMG GT4 || 2019 Portland GT4 America round

|-

| TCR Touring Car || 1:18.770 || Michael James Lewis || Hyundai i30 N TCR || 2018 Portland Pirelli World Challenge round

|-

| Mazda MX-5 Cup || 1:25.3537 || Michael Carter || Mazda MX-5 (ND) || 2019 Portland Mazda MX-5 Cup round

|-

! colspan=5 | Formula E Circuit (2023–2024):

|-

| Formula E || 1:10.650 || Robin Frijns || Jaguar I-Type 6 || 2024 Portland ePrix

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (1992–2007): || P. J. Jones || Eagle MkIII || 1992 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix Presented by Nissan

|-

| LMP1 || 1:04.271 || Andy Wallace || MG-Lola EX257 || 2005 Portland Grand Prix

|-

| LMP2 || 1:04.488 || Lucas Luhr || Porsche RS Spyder || 2006 Portland Grand Prix

|-

| LMP900 || 1:04.909 || Emanuele Pirro || Audi R8 || 2000 Rose City Grand Prix

|-

| LMP || 1:05.451 || J.J. Lehto || BMW V12 LMR || 1999 Rose City Grand Prix

|-

| Formula Atlantic || 1:05.680 || Joe D´Agostino || Swift 016.a || 2006 Portland Formula Atlantic round

|-

| Indy Lights || 1:06.572 || Greg Moore || Lola T93/20 || 1995 Portland Indy Lights round

|-

| GT1 (GTS) || 1:08.595 || Didier de Radigues || Reynard 01Q || 2001 Grand Prix of Portland

|-

| WSC || 1:09.595 || Fermin Velez || Ferrari 333 SP || 1994 Grand Prix of Portland

|-

| IMSA GTP Lights || 1:10.849 || Darin Brassfield || Oldsmobile Cutlass || 1993 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix

|-

| GT2 (GTS) || 1:12.219|| Olivier Beretta || Dodge Viper GTS-R || 1999 Rose City Grand Prix

|-

| GT2 || 1:12.931 || Scott Pruett || Chevrolet Camaro || 1994 Portland Trans-Am round

|-

| GT || 1:14.392 || Boris Said || BMW M3 GTR || 2001 Grand Prix of Portland

|-

| IMSA GTO || 1:14.613 || John Fergus || Dodge Daytona || 1992 G.I. Joe's Camel Gran Prix Presented by Nissan

|-

| Super Touring || 1:20.227 || Randy Pobst || Honda Accord || 1996 Portland NATCC round

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (1984–1991): || Wayne Taylor || Intrepid RM-1 || 1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix

|-

| CART || 1:00.058 || Michael Andretti || Lola T91/00 || 1991 Budweiser/G.I.Joe's 200

|-

| IMSA GTO || 1:02.772 || Dorsey Schroeder || Ford Mustang || 1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix

|-

| IMSA GTP Lights || 1:03.495 || Greg Pickett || Mercury Capri || 1984 Portland 200

|-

! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (1971–1983): || John Fitzpatrick || Porsche 935 K4 || 1982 G.I. Joe's/Toyota Grand Prix

|-

| IMSA GTX || 1:06.140 || John Paul Jr. || Lola T600 || 1981 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix

|-

| TO || 1:08.170 || John Paul || Porsche 935 JLP-1 || 1979 Portland Trans-Am round

|-

| IMSA GTO || 1:10.540 || Bob Bergstrom || Porsche 924 Carrera GTR || 1983 G.I. Joe's Grand Prix

|-

| TU || 1:21.330 || Lee Midgley || Alfa Romeo GTV || 1972 Portland Trans-Am round

|-

|}

Lead contamination

40% of races at the Portland International Raceway use leaded gasoline. Testing conducted at PIR indicated that concentrations of lead in public areas could not conclusively be determined by traffic on the Raceway since the track sits next to heavy highway traffic and industrial complexes. The dissipation of leaded fuels before reaching the general attendees coupled with ever-efficient modern engines minimized any significant health risks to general attendees.

IndyCar race history

IMSA Sports Car race history

Formula E race history

See also

  • List of sports venues in Portland, Oregon

References

Further reading

  • Trackpedia guide to driving this track
  • Friends of PIR
  • Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association OMRRA
  • Unofficial History of PIR
  • Aerial imagery from Google Earth of Portland International Raceway as an overlay on an old photo of Vanport City, Oregon
  • Short video about, and on the history, of Portland International Raceway